Paul and Bente Withers, in
their wonderful new reference volume on the 19th Century penny and
halfpenny tokens entitled British Copper Tokens, 1811-1820 have a superb
eight page introduction to the tokens and the era in which they were produced.
The introduction covers the history in great detail  really wonderful detail.
As this introduction to the series is meant to discuss the tokens themselves, it
will be much shorter. However  if you are interested in this wonderful series 
Withers is a must!!

The tokens issued during the
1811-1820 period were really quite different from the pieces that had proceeded
them in the latter days of the 18th Century.
A good number of events occurred that led to the manufacture of the
pieces  with the usual reason leading the way. There was a shortage  once
again  of small change.

Here, we must go back in time slightly  to 1797. George III
effectively halted the Conder token issue by producing penny and halfpenny
coins in that year. They were followed by other issues of copper coin in 1799,
1806, and 1807. It would seem that there would have been plenty of small change.
Regretfully for the public, it was not to be. As we have discussed in other
sections, the basis of acceptable money in the era was to have the coin be of
correct weight. In other words, the value of the metal should be close to the
value of the coin. If the coin is light weight, it does not contain enough metal
 be it silver, gold  or copper, in this instance.

After 1797, the price of
copper increased, leading to the coinage of 1799 having less copper in it than
the issue of 1797  though the VALUE was the same. The issues of 1806 and 1807
were similarly reduced in weight, because of a further rise in the price of
copper. This led  as you might expect  to the melting of the earlier issues 
which were now worth quite a bit more than face value! This increase in the
value of copper was caused by the need of the metal for munitions  Britain was
in the middle of a war.

The long and costly war with
Napoleon of France  and the war against the USA in 1812  badly depleted the
countrys resources. The government was quite occupied with pressing matters,
both at home, with a very restless population, and abroad. Producing useful coin
of the realm was important  but only to the people. For the ministers in charge
of such things, it was not important enough. Nothing was done to relieve the
problem.

Britain was also in the middle
of the industrial revolution  which, by applying steam power to more and more
industries, was escalating at a great rate. It was like a monster that feeds on
itself  the more efficient a factory becomes, the more it produces  making
more work in other fields. Steam power also meant that mills did not have to be
located by a stream because of the need for a waterwheel  they could be located
where the workers were, in the cities and towns.

Thus, with the expanding
economy, the need was there for coin in ever increasing amounts. The earlier
coin had, as we have seen, largely been melted for its value as a metal. It was
at this juncture that the price of copper began to drop. Copper mines suddenly
had an abundance of copper  and the country needed small change. It was a
natural that they would decide to help themselves, as well as help the country 
and produce small change. The government  once again asked to produce copper
coin for the use of the public  did nothing.

The copper tokens produced
beginning in 1811 were mostly penny issues. Very small issues of Threepence,
Twopence, Halfpennies and Farthings were made, but the prices dictated that the
Penny was the most needed coin. Though they were made until 1820, the vast
majority of the pieces were produced in 1811 and 1812.
Strangely, even a copper Sixpence was attempted. It most likely failed to
catch on when the weight of them was re-considered. All Sixpences are very rare
today.

Many of these penny tokens were issued by mining interests.
Other tokens were issued by merchants, townships, and poorhouses. They were made
to the correct weight in most cases, but were quite utilitarian in design and
lack any real artistry. Many of the tokens bear legends only, and the shallow
designs did not excite collectors at the time. The tokens were made to use  and
use them the people did.

This was not to last, however.
They were greeted enthusiastically at first  but some of the genuine issuers
went bankrupt, leaving the public with tokens that could not be redeemed for
real coin. As well, spurious issues once again were made, with the same result 
they were not redeemable. The tokens, in general, were being used, and used
correctly  they did fill a genuine need. The bad apples in the barrel, however,
caused such a cry that the government eventually called a halt to them as well,
with the proviso that one poorhouse issue could be in circulation until as late
as 1823 without penalty, as recalling them would work a hardship on the poor.
The vast majority of the tokens were removed from circulation by decree in 1817.

The token coinage of the
1811-1820 period did not find collectors standing in line for them. The economy
and life of the people was in a constant state of flux  collecting them was not
at the top of anyones list. As
well, the utilitarian designs did not have anyone excited. Few were saved in
nice condition  except, most likely, by accident. Though made in fairly large
quantities, the tokens were heavily used by a grateful public. This fact leaves
us today with very few really nice examples of ANY of the tokens. A collector
willing to collect them in Very Fine will do well  anything in Extra Fine or
better can be quite difficult.

It is a rewarding series,
however. These tokens were issued by industrialists  REAL industrialists, in
the midst of the suddenly exploding industrial revolution. Britain was in the
forefront of that revolution  leading the way  the steam engines are running,
the workers are working 12 hour days, and the tokens tell of the economic
realities of the time. All tokens, regardless of when issued, do that  they
take the measure of what was going on at the time, and lets us hold it in our
hands and contemplate what was  what was to come  and what is.